Improvement in convertible chairs and lounges



H "n. WILLGOHS. Convertih|e Chairs and Lounges.

No. 161,081. 4 Patented March 23,1875

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HENRY WILLGOHS, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONVERTIBLE CHAIRS AND LOUNGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,08l, dated March 23, 1875; application filed May 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VVILLGOHS, of New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain Improvements relating to Combined Chair and Lounge, of which the following is a specification:

When extended for a lounge the same parts which are upholstered for the chair serve, with an additional upholstered part, to produce an upholstered couch or lounge. Hooks, which serve to bind the parts firmly together in position as a chair, serve as legs to support'the foot portion when in the lounge condition. Extensions of the arm-rests, which are not in the way or especially unsightly when in use as a chair, serve as efficient legs when the construction is extended.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the construction complete, adjusted for use as a chair. Fig. 2 is afront view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the same parts extended and adjusted for use as a lounge. Fig. 4 represents a modification. Fig. l represents a portion of the same view as in Fig. l, with the seat adjusted at a different angle.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the back. B B are connecting-pieces, which serve several important functions, some of which are those of connecting-links and arm-rests when adjusted for use as a chair, and others those of connecting-links and legs when adjusted for use as a lounge. I will distinguish a portion of each of these as B. These pieces B B receive pins 12 0, connecting them, respectively, with the backA and with the front piece D, which is formed and matches against the other parts, as represented. Casters a d are mounted under the respective parts, in the position showm A hinged portion, E, is connected to the base of the back A by hinges e. Stout hooked pieces G G are hinged thereto by pins g, and adapted to engage with the pins d on the part D, and hold the parts D and A stiffly and stronglytogether. The folding seat-piece M turnsv on pins 112 in the part D, and abuts at the rear edge against the back A, with the cross-piece A thereon to support it. This piece M is capable of another adjustment in the use as a chair, which will be de scribed further on. In Fig. 3 these parts have been changed as follows The part A has been turned down with its face toward the floor. The part E has been turned on its hinges e, and extended in line with the part A. The hooks Ghave been disengaged from the pins d to allow this movement, and have been turned down to serve as legs. The arm-rests B B have been let down, and stand with the ends resting firmly on the floor. The front piece D has been turned and now presented toward the floor, the face which before matched against the part A and the seat-piece M, has been turned on the pins m, and presents uppermost what was originally its under side, in the right position to form the raised end or head-support of a lounge. It is sustained in this position by the cross-bar D.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the same principal parts perform the same func tions, except that the part D is extended down to the floor just outside of the lower end or base of the part A, and the casters are mounted thereon instead of on the part A. When the casters are on the part A, as in the form shown, it is important to pivot them a little inward of the cross-bar which forms the end of the part A, and to recess the adjacent cross-bar, forming the end of the part E, so that when the latter is extended to form a lounge, room should be afforded for the casters. The other adjustment of the seat-piece M, when used as a chair, is obtained by being careful, in turning the parts into the chair condition, to insert the seatpiece under, instead of over, the cross-piece A In this position, (shown in Fig. 1 the seat-piece is supported on the cross-bar A on the part A, with the back edge at a considerably lower elevation than before. The front edge of the piece M being sustained at the same elevation as be fore gives an adjustment of the angular position of the seat-piece, which adapts the condition of the chair for use by different persons, or makes a pleasing variety in the condition of the chair when becoming wearisome for an invalid. The axis m, although described as a shaft, may be, and preferably is, formed by simple screws or pins at the sides where it joins to the front piece D, with only an elastic or yielding connection stretching across under the front edge of the seat. The hinged part E carries pivoted near the line of the hinges e a folding leg, E. This is turned into the same plane as the piece E when the structure is adjusted for use as a chair; but when adapted for use as a lounge it is turned down in the position shown in Fig. 3, and forms an efficient leg. It prevents the hinges e from turning under any movement of the occupant. I propose, in some cases, to construct the part E with a closed, instead of an open, bottom, and to utilize the space under the seatpiece M for the stowage of a thin mattress adapted for use above the other parts when Although I have alluded to this extended.

construction of the chair as particularly adapted for an' upholstered chair, I propose to make a cheaper style of chair with cane or with slats and analogous cheap and durable imy hand this 23d day of May, 1874, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY WILLGOHS. Witnesses:

W. O. DEY, ARNOLD HGRMANN. 

